Dave P
Member
... and read the part about the Bobbies!
Shooting range makes big hit
By Corey Schubert
FLORIDA TODAY
TITUSVILLE -- Barry Shepherd pointed a .44-caliber Magnum at his attacker's chest and blasted a round, then cocked the pistol's hammer to fire again.
The bullet ripped through the stomach area of the cardboard cutout of a man, who continued pointing a paper gun at Shepherd from about 20 feet away.
"I'd hate to have a doctor dig that one out of me," said Shepherd, as the nonprofit American Police Hall of Fame and Museum's marketing director sent another shot roaring into the target's torso.
Hundreds of people have pummeled the paper silhouettes since the organization opened a 24-lane gun range Oct. 6 at the museum, on State Road 405, next to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. It is the only indoor range in North Brevard County and the third of its kind on the Space Coast.
Separated from the museum by more than 100,000 pounds of concrete and sand, the computerized shooting range is helping draw visitors to the police museum and is gaining support from law enforcement and gun enthusiasts across the county.
"I've been there twice already, and it's great because they even help people who don't know how to shoot properly," said gun aficionado Jeremy Johnson of Titusville.
Ironically, among those who have needed a beginner's lesson with handguns were several police officers visiting from England.
"England is a strict gun-control country, so they'd never fired a gun," said Brent Shepherd, director of operations for the Police Hall of Fame, which runs the range. "They were tickled to death to get to shoot."
One of the best marksmen to blast a target at the range was a retired Marine who was 85 years old, he said.
The range, which is open to anyone who is at least 18 years old and isn't a convicted felon, offers rentals of about 17 types of pistols and sells plenty of ammunition. Those who want to bring their own pistols and ammo can do so, as well as any submachine gun that shoots pistol rounds.
The cost to rent a gun, purchase ammo and shoot is about $30 a session without police and military discounts. Shooting lessons are included for novices.
Shooting range makes big hit
By Corey Schubert
FLORIDA TODAY
TITUSVILLE -- Barry Shepherd pointed a .44-caliber Magnum at his attacker's chest and blasted a round, then cocked the pistol's hammer to fire again.
The bullet ripped through the stomach area of the cardboard cutout of a man, who continued pointing a paper gun at Shepherd from about 20 feet away.
"I'd hate to have a doctor dig that one out of me," said Shepherd, as the nonprofit American Police Hall of Fame and Museum's marketing director sent another shot roaring into the target's torso.
Hundreds of people have pummeled the paper silhouettes since the organization opened a 24-lane gun range Oct. 6 at the museum, on State Road 405, next to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. It is the only indoor range in North Brevard County and the third of its kind on the Space Coast.
Separated from the museum by more than 100,000 pounds of concrete and sand, the computerized shooting range is helping draw visitors to the police museum and is gaining support from law enforcement and gun enthusiasts across the county.
"I've been there twice already, and it's great because they even help people who don't know how to shoot properly," said gun aficionado Jeremy Johnson of Titusville.
Ironically, among those who have needed a beginner's lesson with handguns were several police officers visiting from England.
"England is a strict gun-control country, so they'd never fired a gun," said Brent Shepherd, director of operations for the Police Hall of Fame, which runs the range. "They were tickled to death to get to shoot."
One of the best marksmen to blast a target at the range was a retired Marine who was 85 years old, he said.
The range, which is open to anyone who is at least 18 years old and isn't a convicted felon, offers rentals of about 17 types of pistols and sells plenty of ammunition. Those who want to bring their own pistols and ammo can do so, as well as any submachine gun that shoots pistol rounds.
The cost to rent a gun, purchase ammo and shoot is about $30 a session without police and military discounts. Shooting lessons are included for novices.